On September 19, the EU Commission decided to restrict the use of Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and PFHxA-related substances throughout the entire EU. Annex XVII of Regulation 1907/2006 (REACH) describes in detail how the individual substances are restricted. According to the Annex, PFHxA will be banned for the following…
Australia updated the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC) several times in the first five months of this year. The database now lists around 40,000 chemicals, all of which are substances manufactured or imported for industrial use in Australia. Australian chemicals legislation is based on the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction…
As part of its next REACH-EN-FORCE project (REF-14), the ECHA plans to check the correct classification, labeling, and child-resistance of air fresheners and e-cigarettes to determine their conformity with the CLP Regulation. Inspections are expected to start in 2026. The ECHA Enforcement Forum made this decision at its meeting in…
The American Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an updated version of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) at the end of May 2024. For the most part, it has adapted the content to that of GHS Rev.7, the seventh revised edition of the United Nations‘ Globally Harmonized System of…
Although Latin American countries lag behind the EU in terms of chemicals management and the circular economy, some countries are pushing ahead with chemicals legislation, including Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. Note that all links in this post refer to documents available only in each country’s national language. Brazil On…
Endocrine disruptors are more harmful to health around the world than previously thought, according to a report prepared jointly by the Endocrine Society and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and published at the end of February. Studies indicate that such substances pose a health risk even at low doses….
The Environment Committee of the EU Parliament has cleared the way for the updated Detergents Regulation after some parts of the EU Commission’s proposal were amended. The improvements primarily serve to protect the environment, consumers, water, and bodies of water. The lowered threshold values for the total phosphorus content in…
Scientists and authorities have put melamine in the crosshairs because of its harmful properties. The French Agency for Food, Environment, and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) has classified the substance as toxic to reproduction (report in French). This finding is controversial because products made from melamine also come into contact…
New information requirements for safety data sheets (SDS) and labeling will apply in Japan as of April 1 of this year. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has published detailed information on this (in Japanese only). The legal basis is the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA). The…
